Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-20

Perryville, and November found the two OBJ
ponents facing each other in middle Tennes-
see-the Army of the Cumberland at Nash
vile, and the Confederate Army of the Ten
nessee at Murfreesboro, twenty-eight miles
distant. There the two equally matched giants
lay confronting each other, and sullenly max
ing ready for the mighty struggle which was
10 decide the possession of territory equal
ing kingdom in extent.
In the year which had elapsed since the af-
fair at Wildcat Harry Glen's regiment had
not participated in single general engage
ment. 1t had secuted and raided; it had re-
connoitered and guarded; it had chased guer-
rillas through the winters rain ard mud for
days and nights together; it had followed
John Morgan's dashing troopers along lime
stone turnpikes that glowed like brick kilns
under the July sun until three-fourths of the
regiment had dropped by the roadside in sheer
exhaustion; it had marched over the mouii-
tains to Cumberland Gap, and back over the
mountains to Lexington; across Kentucky and
Tennessee to Huntsville, Ala. back across
those states to the Ohio river, and again back
across Kentucky to Nashville, beside side
marches as numerous as the branches on q
tree; so per cent. of its number had fallen
victims to sickness and hardship, and 10 per
cent. more had been shot, here and there,
man or two at time, on the picket or
slfirmish line. at fords or stockades guarding
railroad bridges. But while other regiments
which had suffered nothing like 1t had painted
on their banners MIL Springs" Shiloh
and "Perryville," its colors lad vet to receive
their maiden inscription This was the hard
luck Of many of the regiments in the left wing
Of Buell's army i'll 1862
Kent Edwards, whose promotion to the
rank of sergeant ard reduction for some
escapade had been a usual monthly occur
renee during the year, was fond of saying that
the regiment was not sent to the field to gain
martial glory, but to train as book agents to
sell histories Of the struggle, "When This
Cruel War is Over Whereupon Abe Boil
ton would improve the occasion to invoke q
heated future for every person in authority,
from the president down To- the fifth corporal
But for all this the 400 hardy bows who still
remained to answer roll call out of the /, 100
that had crossed the Ohioriver in September.
1861 were as fine body Of fighting men as
ever followed a flag, and there was no better
soldier among them than Harry Glen. Every
day had been a growth to him, and every
trial had knit his spirit into firmer texture
For awhile he had made it a matter of con-
science to take an active part in everything
that his comrades Were called upon to do
Soon this became a matter of pleasure, for
the satisfaction Of successfully leading them
through difficulties and dangers more than
compensated for the effort But while he had
indicated himself in their estimation, he vet
lacked that which the ordeal Of battle
would give him at home, and moro than all.
in Rachel's eyes. He heard nothing from or
of her, but he consoled himself with the hope
that the same means by which She had been SO
promptly informed of his miSstep would con
vey to her an intimation of how well he wa,
deserving her VIXEN he gained his laurel,
he would himself lay them at her feet. Unit!
then he could only hope and strive, cherish
ing all the while tho love for her that daily
grew stronger in his heart